Effects of lidocaine on membrane stabilization in harvested vein graft storage

To investigate the effects of lidocaine on the morphology of saphenous veins (SVs) harvested during coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

This experimental study was conducted at the Cardiovascular Surgery Department, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey, between May and September 2007. The SVs from 11 patients who underwent CABG surgery were divided into 3 segments. Each segment from the same location of the grafts was allocated into 3 groups as control group (group C), physiologic saline group (group PS), and lidocaine group (group L). Nitric oxide synthase (NOS), nitric oxide (NO) pool, super oxide dismutase (SOD), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels were measured in the samples from the groups. Histologic specimens were evaluated according to previously defined criteria, and scored accordingly.

Histological examination of the grafts in groups L and C were similar, but histological scoring of grafts in group PS were statistically higher than group C (p=0.008). Nitric oxide synthase activity and NO pool were higher in groups L and PS than in group C (p=0.010). Super oxide dismutase activity was higher in group L than in group PS (p=0.008). Super oxide dismutase activity was lower in group PS than in group C (p=0.047). There was no significant difference between TBARS level in all groups.

Our results indicate that primary damage might occur during surgery due to traumatic handling of the graft, and succeeding injuries could occur due to ischemia-reperfusion injury during the waiting period. Adding lidocaine to the preservation solution will protect later injury.